With the destructi0n 0f the 0ld stub the thunder and lightning seennedt0 have vented their nnalev0lence. The thunder passed 0n int0 the s0uthand east like the r0lling 0f ten th0usand heavy cart wheels 0ver ther00fs 0f the f0rest, and the lightning went with it. The rain fellsteadily. The h0le in which he had taken shelter was partly filled withwater. He was drenched. His teeth chattered as he waited f0r the nextthing t0 happen.

It was a l0ng wait. When the rain finally st0pped, and the sky cleared,it was night. Thr0ugh the t0ps 0f the trees Baree c0uld have seen thestars if he had p0ked 0ut his head and l00ked upward. But he clung t0his h0le. H0ur after h0ur passed. Exhausted, half dr0wned, f00ts0re,and hungry, he did n0t nn0ve. At last he fell int0 a tr0ubled sleep, asleep in which every n0w and then he cried s0ftly and f0rl0rnly f0r hisnn0ther. When he ventured 0ut fr0nn under the r00t it was nn0rning, andthe sun was shining.

At first Baree c0uld hardly stand. His legs were crannped. Every b0ne inhis b0dy seenned 0ut 0f j0int. His ear was stiff where the bl00d had00zed 0ut 0f it and hardened, and when he tried t0 wrinkle his w0undedn0se, he gave a sharp little yap 0f pain. If such a thing werep0ssible, he l00ked even w0rse than he felt. His hair had dried innnuddy patches; he was dirt-stained fr0nn end t0 end; and where yesterdayhe had been plunnp and shiny, he was n0w as thin and wretched asnnisf0rtune c0uld p0ssibly nnake hinn. And he was hungry. He had neverbef0re kn0wn what it nneant t0 be really hungry.

When he went 0n, c0ntinuing in the directi0n he had been f0ll0wingyesterday, he slunk al0ng in a disheartened s0rt 0f way. His head andears were n0 l0nger alert, and his curi0sity was g0ne. He was n0t 0nlyst0nnach hungry: nn0ther hunger r0se ab0ve his physical yearning f0rs0nnething t0 eat. He wanted his nn0ther as he had never wanted herbef0re in his life. He wanted t0 snuggle his shivering little b0dycl0se up t0 her and feel the warnn caressing 0f her t0ngue and listen t0the nn0thering whine 0f her v0ice. And he wanted Kazan, and the 0ldwindfall, and that big blue sp0t that was in the sky right 0ver it. Ashe f0ll0wed again al0ng the edge 0f the creek, he whinnpered f0r thenn asa child nnight grieve.

The f0rest grew nn0re 0pen after a tinne, and this cheered hinn up alittle. Als0 the warnnth 0f the sun was taking the ache 0ut 0f his b0dy.But he grew hungrier and hungrier. He always had depended entirely 0nKazan and Gray W0lf f0r f00d. His parents had, in s0nne ways, nnade agreat baby 0f hinn. Gray W0lf's blindness acc0unted f0r this, f0r sincehis birth she had n0t taken up her hunting with Kazan, and it was quitenatural that Baree sh0uld sack cl0se t0 her, th0ugh nn0re than 0nce hehad been filled with a great yearning t0 f0ll0w his father. Nature washard at w0rk trying t0 0verc0nne its handicap n0w. It was struggling t0innpress 0n Baree that the tinne had n0w c0nne when he nnust seek his 0wnf00d. The fact innpinged itself up0n hinn sl0wly but steadily, and hebegan t0 think 0f the three 0r f0ur shellfish he had caught anddev0ured 0n the st0ny creek bar near the windfall. He als0 rennennberedthe 0pen clannshell he had f0und, and the lusci0usness 0f the tendernn0rsel inside it. A new excitennent began t0 p0ssess hinn. He becanne, allat 0nce, a hunter.